Case Number: 4959

Reese, Mary W. - Age 34 - Colored - Killed with a hatchet at 3658 Wabash Ave. and body dismembered and buried in rear of the house under "L" structure, by her husband John Henry Reese, who was arrested and on 12/13 held by the Coroner together with Orin Donaldson, as accessory, the latter having assisted Reese in disposing of the body. 34 Pct. Jan. 1920 No bill on Donaldson. 6/2/20 - Reese sentenced to hang on 10/14/20 - Scanlon. 10/14/20 hanged at Co. Jail.


Circumstances

Date of Offense December 5, 1919
Date of Death December 5, 1919
Time Between Offense and Death Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene
Address 3658 Wabash Ave.
Type of Location Residence
Location Description At 3658 Wabash Ave.
Type of Death Homicide
Type of Homicide Intentional murder
Characteristics killed with hatchet
Method of Killing Axe or hatchet
Weapon killed w/a hatchet & body dismembered and buried i
Total Number of Victims 1
Excessive Violence Mutilation of victim(s)
Location At 3658 Wabash Ave.
Number of Defendants 1
Related to Organized Crime
Type of Residence Residence of both victim and defendant

Victim

Name Reese, Mary W.
Age 34 years
Gender Female
Race Black
Ethnicity African American

Defendant

Name Reese, John Henry
Gender Male
Ethnicity African American
Race Black
Related by Blood or Marriage Spouses

Police

Precinct 34
Allegations of Police Corruption No
Date Defendant Arrested 13-Dec-19
Time Between Crime and Arrest Weeks
Total Number of Defendants Arrested 2

Legal

Date of Coroner's Decision December 13, 1919
Outcome of Coroner's Judgment Defendant held to Grand Jury
Charges Against Defendant No
Trial Judge Scanlon
Type of Legal Decision Recorded Coroner, trial
Jury Verdict Yes
Allegations of Police Corruption No
Date of Sentence June 2, 1920
Length of Sentence Death penalty
Outcome of Trial Guilty of murder
Post Trial Information Death sentence carried out
Sentence Completed Yes

Florence Kelley in Chicago, 1891-1899

Florence Kelley was the first woman factory inspector in the United States. A resident of Hull House, and a reformer – who refused to be associated with any political party–Florence Kelley lived in Chicago from 1891 until 1899, leading and participating in a variety of projects. Visit our companion site...